But Jose Mourinho , who sprung a surprise when he played the ill Marcus Rashford on his last visit to Stamford Bridge, refused to rule out an unexpected inclusion during his pre-match press conference during the week report the MEN .

“I’m not very optimistic but I don’t want to lie. I don’t want you to tell when I say no chance of recovering, so two more days to confirm my expectation.”

Keeping your discipline

Manchester United's Ander Herrera is sent off during the FA Cup quarter-final at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea

United had been more than holding their own on their last visit to Stamford Bridge - before Ander Herrera ’s second booking left their gameplan in tatters with 55 minutes still to play.

Red cards, unsurprisingly, have had a huge bearing on this fixture in recent years and United’s last win at SW6 came against nine-man Chelsea in 2012.

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Forget Lukaku and Morata swapping sides, in a parallel universe Matic is still playing for Chelsea while Tiemoue Bakayoko is wearing the red of United.

The midfielder, a former team-mate of Anthony Martial ’s, had been interested in a move to Old Trafford after United secured their place in the Champions League but it was his move to London which triggered Matic’s departure 16 days later.

Bakayoko, like Chelsea as a whole, has not looked terribly comfortable without compatriot N’Golo Kante alongside him in midfield; Matic, in contrast, has made a seamless start to life at United and any boos from the home end will only inspire him further.

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When United’s solid defensive shape is inevitably pierced, Mourinho is safe in the knowledge that he has one of the world’s best goalkeepers in his ranks - even if FIFA did not recognise it.

A save like that scarcely-believable stop against Joel Matip last month could again be required from the man who has kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper in Europe’s big five leagues in the last year.